Meghan's Playlist Playground: Sad Songs for Broken Hearts
Hi! I'm Meghan. I have a long history with the RFF. One of my first memories is from the park, surrounded by music. I've volunteered, ran the After Parties, attended, MC'd concert series shows, and, most recently, was the Marketing and Communications Coordinator for the gong show that was 2020. I love it a lot.
The past year has been full of grief and sadness. Most of us have gone without seeing friends and family, missing out on traditions, having to imagine what could have been. It has been a long period of sacrifice to be stuck in a worse place now than we were last year.
If you would like to sit in some sad feelings, this playlist is for you. Part soundtrack to my broken-hearted years, part dashed hopes and dreams, all songs I cry to in the shower.
"The End" - The Philosopher Kings
This was my song in 2003. I was 17 and heartbroken but with a world of possibilities in front of me that I couldn't bring myself to see at the time. If I remember correctly, The Philosopher Kings had announced a 2020 tour which was one of the many things taken away from us all.
“Let it Die” - Feist
If you haven't laid in bed singing this into your tear-soaked pillow, congratulations, I guess. The idea of learning how to love better through a broken heart helped me pull myself out of bed. Feist at RFF is also one of my favourite performances.
“Burning” - Sam Smith
Uggggghhhhh I feel this in my bottom of my ribs. I can't quite get a deep breath when I listen to this. That feeling of not being good enough, and empty without certain people in your life anymore (and how those two are related, uugggghhh).
“I Can’t Make You Love Me” - Bonnie Raitt
Oof. Nothing like the longing of one-sided love. If I'm being really honest, this is the song I go to after a job interview goes really well but they choose someone else. There have been a lot of those over the years.
“Why” - Annie Lennox
This is a song that imprinted on my brain at a very young age. It felt so grownup to apologize and argue at the same time. I will also forever love the line "Let's go down to the water's edge and cast away those doubts." Unfortunately, I can't say anything else about the heartbreak I associate with this song to protect the innocent and not so innocent.
“Next Year” - Donovan Woods
If I think too hard about this song, I cry (Donovan Woods does that to me a lot). We keep saying next year we'll do everything. Next year we'll travel, when this is over we can hug all our friends, when we're vaccinated we'll all be safe. It's not the truth though. For some of us, this is it and there is no next year.